Half Follis of Justinian, Carthage 

Curator: This is a Half Follis of Justinian, minted in Carthage, weighing just over 12 grams. Editor: It's tiny and worn, but the designs—the emperor's portrait and that bold "K"—are still fascinating. The patina speaks volumes. Curator: Indeed. These coins offer insight into the reign of Justinian I and the Byzantine administration in North Africa. Minting here after reconquest signaled imperial authority. Editor: I'm drawn to the texture. The roughness of the metal, the way light catches the raised surfaces—it connects us to the hands that made and used this coin. Curator: Coins like these were tools of statecraft, conveying power and stability. Their distribution impacted local economies and reflected Byzantine imperial reach. Editor: Considering it as a work of art, even in this modest form, the strong lines of the "K" give it a solid, almost architectural quality. Curator: Absolutely. This coin reminds us that even everyday objects were carefully designed to communicate very specific messages to a diverse populace. Editor: Examining it through a formal lens, it's remarkable how such a small object commands our attention, bridging the aesthetic and the historical.